| Catching catfish by hand is a long standing practice | | | | by the often dangerous practice. |
| that dates back to when the Native American | | | | Many people who practice handfishing, or noodling, |
| population caught them that way. It used to be a must, | | | | actually plant boxes in catfish rich areas, in which they |
| of course, before the types of fishing equipment we | | | | hope to entice catfish to spawn. Others simply rely on |
| commonly think of came into existence. Even with | | | | the natural spawning grounds to attract these catfish. |
| rudimentary fishing equipment, people still used | | | | The catfish in turn spawn in these areas, leaving |
| methods of catfish fishing by hand. | | | | mature males to guard their nest. The handfishermen |
| Today, you are likely to see even more people | | | | then dive down to likely areas such as submerged |
| searching for this seemingly new method of fishing for | | | | hollow logs, rocky outcroppings, or underwater caves. |
| catfish. Anglers are often challenged in a unique way | | | | They reach inside these areas, hoping to find catfish |
| by this method of fishing. Most often, people are | | | | there, allow these fish to bite down on their arms, and |
| looking for a new way to simply get fish in hand. NO | | | | physically pull them from their nest. They then wrestle |
| matter why you want to go catfish fishing by hand, | | | | them to the bank. |
| chances are you will enjoy the process. | | | | Those who oppose the practice site that it is |
| The popularity of the sport has grown, and has gotten | | | | dangerous and causes many injuries to those who |
| a considerable amount of publicity since it was | | | | partake in this sport. Indeed, it does cause numerous |
| legalized in Missouri. Be aware, it is not as easy as it | | | | injuries. Perhaps the worst possibility is that you might |
| sounds. It is most definitely a sport to try though, | | | | find something other than catfish in the area in which |
| especially if your passion is catfish. | | | | you search. Many handfishermen find the snakes, |
| There are currently eleven states that have legalized | | | | snapping turtles, or even alligators that also inhabit |
| catfishing by hand, or 'noodling' as it is commonly called. | | | | these areas rather than the catfish they are seeking. In |
| Those eleven states include Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, | | | | fact, most people who have noodled for catfish bear |
| Kansas, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma, | | | | the proof on their flesh. Scars and missing digits are |
| Mississippi, Louisiana, and Kentucky. | | | | not uncommon sights in noodlers. |
| The way in which catfishing by hand is carried out is | | | | Those who oppose the practice of hand fishing state |
| somewhat interesting, to say the least. In hand fishing, | | | | that, since regulations state that since only mature |
| the fisherman actually goes out into the water, dives | | | | catfish may be caught when noodling, this type of |
| down, and reaches into likely areas to find his prey, | | | | fishing might deplete the catfish population. Most states |
| and haul it, by hand, out of the water. The only special | | | | do have regulations on the size of catfish which can |
| equipment needed for handfishing is gloves that help | | | | be caught when noodling, but the fact is that the |
| protect fishermen from the rows of sharp teeth in a | | | | spawning grounds of catfish are always heavily fished |
| catfish's mouth. Advocates state that this is a | | | | by fishermen, and there is absolutely no evidence what |
| traditional method of fishing for catfish dating back to | | | | so ever that the practice of handfishing for catfish has |
| our native American roots, while others are alarmed | | | | depleted the catfish population. |